Oru Folding Kayaks

When we moved to Victoria we bought folding Oru Kayaks. We got the Inlet model, the smallest, simplest, and lightest of the models. (Check out the assembly video at the bottom of that page.) It’s short, wide, and flat bottomed. You won’t win any races in it. And with the open cockpit you don’t want to use in big waves. But on the positive side, it assembles in 5 minutes and it only weighs 20 lbs. You can easily pick it up with one hand. The carrying bag turns it into a bulky but light backpack. I’m tempted by the higher performance models but they are heavier and more complex to assemble.

In Saskatoon we had Evergreen Envy fiberglass recreational kayaks. At 36 lbs, they were lightweight for rigid kayaks, but still a lot heavier than these. And of course, to take them anywhere required a roof rack and lifting them up there. Whereas the Inlets will fit in the back of our Prius. (We couldn't take our old kayaks to Victoria anyway, because we had nowhere to store them.)

At first I wasn’t sure if we’d use them in the ocean or just stick to lakes. But when the water was calm it was too tempting to go in the ocean right by our townhouse. I can be on the water minutes from walking out the door. (I do keep an eye on the weather and the tides.) Because it's so easy, I've been getting out about once a week. And we've explored various other nearby sites on lakes and the ocean.

If the trade offs fit your situation, I’d recommend the Oru kayaks.

(That's our front yard on the other side of the hedge.)

Thanks to Shelley for the photographs. I love the Canada Goose fly by with the Olympic mountains in the background.

PS. Don't worry, I am actually wearing a PFD in the top photo, but it's a self inflating one you wear around your waist so you can't see it.